In Blazing Saddles, the people of Rock Ridge are simple folk who are stuck in their ways. And by "stuck in their ways," we mean that they're racist and not all that interested in becoming more modern in their views. But whether they like it or not, they'll have to rely on their new black Sheriff Bart if they want to stay in their town.
As soon as Bart has defeated the threat from Hedley Lamarr, he'd rather move on to some other adventure than keep hanging out with these backwards hicks. And considering how many times they've called him the "N" word, you can't blame the guy.
Questions about Community
- When do we first get a sense of what kind of community Rock Ridge is? How?
- Do you think Rock Ridge is worth saving? Why or why not?
- How does Gabby Johnson's incoherent speech help convince the people of Rock Ridge to stay and fight for their town? Why is it funny?
Chew on This
In Blazing Saddles, we learn that community goes deeper than greed… but not deeper than racism.
Blazing Saddles reminds us that just as a lot of good things can come from community, a lot of bad things can too.